End stripper for a traveling grate conveyor

ABSTRACT

An end stripper for a traveling grate conveyor for positioning contiguous a lateral edge of the discharge end of the traveling grate conveyor, the end stripper including a detachable side wall which prevents lateral spillage of material passing over the end stripper. The end stripper includes a main body portion provided with a tapered interlocking web which is adapted to receive a detachable stripper side wall having a tapered T-slot which is adapted to interlockingly engage the tapered interlocking web carried by the main body portion of the end stripper when the side wall is slidably moved into interlocking engagement with the interlocking web. The end stripper also includes a replaceable or detachable stripper tip which is positioned in interlocking engagement with the main body portion of the end stripper after the side wall of the end stripper has been slid into position, with the replaceable stripper tip being so located and positioned relative to the detachable side wall of the end stripper that the replaceable stripper tip serves as an abutment which prevents removal of the detachable side wall from the main body portion of the end stripper as long as the replaceable stripper tip is engaged with the main body portion of the end stripper.

United States Patent Hartwig 1 Feb. 4, 1975 END sTRIPPER FOR A TRAVELING GRATE CONVEYOR [57] ABSTRACT [75] Inventor: Walter J. Hartwig, Hartland, Wis. [73] Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation, v Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 414,405 7 Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 356,049, April 30,

.1973, Pat.- No. 3,815,727.

[52] U.S. Cl..... 198/230, 198/188 [51] Int. Cl... B65g 45/00 [58] Field of Search 198/229, 230, 188

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,739,497 12/1929 Beach 198/230 2,113,897 4/1938 Moore 198/229 3,160,266 12/1964 Edwards 198/230 3,760,872 9/1973 Hartwig 198/230 Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Joseph E, Valenza Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert C. Sullivan An end stripper for a traveling grate conveyor for positioning contiguous a lateral edge of the discharge end of the traveling grate conveyor, the end stripper including a detachable side wall which prevents lateral spillage of material passing over the end stripper. The end stripper includes a main body portion provided with a tapered interlocking web which is adapted to receive a detachable stripper side wall having a tapered T-slot which is adapted to interlockingly engage the tapered interlocking web carried by the main body portion of the end stripper when the side wall is slidably moved into interlocking engagement with the interlocking web. The end stripper also includes a replaceable or detachable stripper tip which is positioned in interlocking engagement with the main body portion of the end stripper after the side wall of the end stripper has been slid into position, with the replaceable stripper tip being so located and positioned relative to the detachable side wall of the end stripper that the replaceable stripper tip serves as an abutment which prevents removal of the detachable side wall from the main body portion of the end stripper as long as the replaceable stripper tip is engaged with the main body portion of the end stripper.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures FOR A TRAVELING GRATE common I CROSS-REFERENCE .TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 356,049, filed Apr. 30, 1973, now U.S. Pat. No, 3,815,727, issued June 11, 1974.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention I This invention-relatesjto a traveling grate conveyor of the type used'to convey material through a dryer, a furnace, a cooler, or the like,'and more particularly to an improved easily installable and easily removable side wall for the end stripper of such a grate conveyor, and to an end stripper having such a side wall.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is well-known in the prior art to provide what is known as an end stripper (sometimes referred to as a horizontal stripper) which is positioned contiguous the discharge end of a traveling grate conveyor or the like and which strips the material such as hot ore pellets or END STRIPPER the like from the discharge end of the grate conveyor for delivery to a rotary kiln where the ore pellets are further processed. An end stripper of the type just described, for example, is shown as element 14 in US. Pat. No. 3,160,266, Edwards, and is also'shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,760,872 which issued on Sept. 25, 1973, An end stripper having a replaceable tip is shown in my copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 356,049,filed Apr. 30, 1973.

A grate conveyor of the type used to convey pelletized ore or the like typically may extend for a length of about 150 to 200 feet from the headshaft sprocket to the tailshaft sprocket thereof. Such a conveyor may typically have a lateral widthof about 15 to 18 feet. The temperature'of the stripper during the operation of the conveyor typically may be in the range of 1,700l,900 Fahrenheit. The stripper assembly of the type described in my'aforementioned U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 356,049 filed Apr. 30, 1973, may typically extend a lateral distance of approximately l 1% to 2 feet of the total lateral width of the conveyor at the discharge end of the conveyor, and a plurality of similar stripper assemblies are positionedin side-by-side relation to complete the entire lateral width at the discharge end of the conveyor. Thus, assuming the lateral width of the conveyor to be 16 feet, for. example, and the lateral width of one of the stripper assemblies described in the foregoing application as well as in the present application, to be approximately 2 feet, for example, then eight stripper assemblies would be required to cover the entire lateral width of the discharge end of the conveyor to strip ore from across the entire lateral width at the discharge end of the conveyor. The plurality of stripper assemblies required to cover the entire lateral width of the discharge end of the conveyor collectively define what may be referred to as the composite end stripper.

The two stripper assemblies located at the opposite lateral ends of the discharge end of the conveyor are each additionally provided with a vertical end or side wall at the laterally outer edge of the respective stripper assembly to prevent material passing over the stripper from discharging laterally of the stripper assembly.

See stripper side wall 20 in my copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 345,23 1, Side Stripper for Traveling Grate Conveyor, filed Mar. 26, 1973, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,577, issued May 21, 1974. Also see wall 15 in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No, 3,160,266, Edwards. In the prior art it has been customary to attach the vertical stripper side wall to the main body of the stripper by bolts.

It has been found that for various reasons a bolted connection of the stripper side wall to the body of the stripper is undesirable and sometimes presents problems, particularly in the disassembly operation where it is necessary to remove and replace an existing stripper side wall.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an end stripper for a traveling grate conveyor or the like in which the end stripper is provided with an easily attachable and/or detachable stripper side wall which does not require the use of bolted connections between the main body of the stripper and the stripper side wall, and yet in which the side wall is securely held in position on the main body of thestripper.

It is another object of the invention to provide an end stripper for a traveling grate conveyor or the like in which the end stripper is provided with an easily detachable side wall which is interlockingly engaged with the main body of the end stripper and which is additionally retained in positionon the stripper by a replaceable (detachable) stripper tip such as that shown in my aforementioned copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 356,049, with the assembled stripper tip abutting and engaging the detachable stripper side wall in such manner as to prevent removal of the side wall while the replaceable stripper tip is in position on the stripper.

In achievement of these objectives, there is provided in accordance with an embodiment of this invention an end stripper for a traveling grate conveyor for positioning contiguous a lateral edge of the discharge end of the traveling grate conveyor, the end stripper including a detachable side wall which prevents lateral spillage of material passing over the end stripper. In accordance with the embodiment of the invention, the stripper includes a main body portion provided with a tapered interlocking web portion which is adapted to receive a detachable stripper side wall having a tapered T-slot which is adapted to interlockingly engage the tapered interlocking web portion carried by the main body portion of the end stripper when the side wall is slidably moved into interlocking engagement with the interlocking web portion. A further important feature of this construction is the fact that the stripper assembly includes a replaceable stripper tip which may be of the type shown in my aforementioned copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 356,049, which tip is positioned in interlocking engagement with the main body portion of the end stripper after the side wall of the stripper has been slid into position, with the replaceable stripper tip being so located and positioned relative to the detachable side wall of the stripper that the replaceable stripper tip serves as an abutment which prevents removal of the detachable side wall from the main body of the stripper as long as the replaceable stripper tip is engaged with the main body portion of the stripper, the replaceable stripper tip thus serving to retain the detachable side wall of the stripper in position on the main'bodyof the stripper, supplementing the interlocking relation between the side wall and the main body portion of the stripper.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a view in vertical elevation of the discharge end of a traveling grate conveyor showing an assembled end stripper including a detachable stripper side wall and a cooperating detachable stripper tip in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the replaceable or detachable stripper tip which forms part of the stripper assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the relation of the main body of the stripper, the stripper side wall, and the stripper tip to each other;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the side wall of the stripper;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view taken substantially along line VI-VI of FIG. 8 of an assembled stripper including a stripper side wall and a replaceable stripper tip which serves to lock the stripper side wall in position;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view taken substantially along line VII-VII of FIG. 8 of the stripper assembly shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view in vertical section, generally similar to FIG. 1, of the discharge end of a traveling grate conveyor showing an assembled end stripper including a detachable stripper side wall and a cooperating detachable stripper tip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, there is diagrammatically shown a traveling grate conveyor generally indicated at 10 of the type usedfor conveying heated pelletized ore or the like to a rotary kiln. The conveyor 10 includes a plurality of pivotally mounted grate members 12 and a conveyor side wall schematically indicated at 11 which pass around end shaft 15 at the discharge end of the conveyor. Heated pelletized ore or the like which reaches the end of the upper run of grate conveyor 10 at the discharge end of the conveyor is stripped from the grate conveyor by an end stripper member (sometimes referred to as a horizontal stripper member) generally indicated at 14, the stripper member 14 delivering the stripped ore to an inclined chute generally indicated at 16 over which the ore passes to a rotary kiln or the like (not shown) for further processing. Stripper member 14 is pivotally supported at 18 by a suitable pivotal support means 19 mounted on the upper surface of the steel support beam generally indicated at 20.

The stripper member 14 includes what might be termed a main body portion 22 which extends from the pivotal connection 18 to a point contiguous the path of conveyor 10 where the conveyor passes around end shaft 15. The replacement tip generally indicated at 24 of stripper'l4 is suitably detachably secured to the end of main body portion 22 of the stripper l4v in a manner which will be described hereinafter more fully. Stripper main body portion 22 includes a material supporting upper body portion 23 which is of slightly arcuate shape in the left-to-right direction (relative to the views of FIGS. 1 and 8), at least in the part of main body portion 22 bounded by side wall 70.

Main body portion 22 of stripper 14 is pivotally connected intermediate its length (its left-to-right dimension relative to the view of FIG. 1) by means of projection 27 and pivot pin 25 to the upper end of a vertical rod 26 which is used for adjusting the angular position and clearance of stripper 14 relative to the discharge end of the grate conveyor. Rod 26 is externally threaded at least in the portion thereofin the region of the nut member 28. The rod 26 passes through a suitable passage in a stationary stop member or structure 30. A spring 32 bears against an abutment 34 carried by the lower end of rod 26 beneath the stationary stop member 30 in such manner as to bias rod 26 downwardly to a position in which nut member 28 on rod 26 abuts against the upper surface of stop 30 or against a stop plate bearing against the upper surface of stop 30. By suitably adjusting nut 28 to a predetermined position on the threaded portion of rod 26, the angular position and clearance of stripper 14 relative to the discharge end of grate conveyor 10 can be suitably adjusted. At the same time, the spring bias arrangement provided by spring 32 and the rest of the structure just described permits stripper 14 to swing in a clockwise direction with respect to the view shown in FIG. 1 if necessary to permit passage of an otherwise obstructing pellet or the like attempting to pass between the discharge end of the grate conveyor 10 and the stripping edge of stripper 14. In a typical installation there may be a clearance of one-sixteenth inch, for example, between the under surface of the stripper tip 24 of stripper member 14 and the facing surface of grates 12 on moving grate conveyor 10.

A let-down bar (or banana bar) generally indicated at 36 is connected to the under surface of stripper tip 24 in a manner which will be more fully described hereinafter. A roller-type chain 38 is connected to the lower end of the let-down bar 36 and the chain passes over a sprocket, roller, or the like 40. A suitable biasing weight (typically 350 pounds) indicated at 43 is connected to the lower end of chain 38 at a level below that of sprocket 40.

One function of let-down bar 36 and the connected chain 38 and weight 43, as already known per se in the prior art, is for let-down bar 36 and chain 38 to bear against the grate members 12 under the influence of the biasing force of weight 43 as grate members 12 are moving downwardly about end shaft 15 after having passed stripper tip 24. The bearing effect and weight of banana bar 36 and chain 38 together with the biasing effect of weight 43 are such as to prevent an extreme pivotal opening movement of grates 12 as they move around shaft 15 toward the lower run of the conveyor. An extreme pivotal opening movement of grates 12 in this region might cause the grates to become undesirably interlocked with each other, and let-down bar 36, chain 38, and weight 43 cooperate to permit a gradual opening of grates 12 as they approach the lower or return run of the grate conveyor.

Referring now to FIG. 6, it will be seen that upper body portion 23 of main body portion 22 of stripper I4 is provided contiguous the end disposed toward the conveyor 10 with two slots or openings each respectively indicated at 40 and laterally spaced from each other, but each lying contiguous the central portion of the lateral width of main body portion 22. Upper body portion 23 of-main body portion 22 of the stripper is also provided with two slots each designated at 42 which lie laterally outwardly of the respective slots 40.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the replaceable stripper tip generally indicated at 24 includes an upper body portion 50 which is adapted to overlie the forward part of the upper surface of upper body portion 23 of main body portion 22 of the stripper. The upper body portion 50 of the stripper tip'extends from stripper tip edge 52 which serves'as the stripping edge of the stripper tip to edge 54 which in the views of FIGS. 1 and 8 with stripper tip 24 assembled relative to main body portion 22 of the stripper, lies in overlapped relation to the right, relative to FIGS. l and 8, of the ends of the respective slots 42 of main body portion 22.

Stripper tip 24 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced lug members-each indicated at 56 which depend downwardly from the under surface of upper body portion 50 of stripper tip 24, and areadapted to be received in and project downwardly through slots 40 of upper body portion 23of main body portion 22 of the stripper and to project, in the assembled views of FIGS. 1, 3 and 8, below slots 40 where the spaced lugs 56 are loosely pivotally connected to the upper end of letdown bar- 36. A pivot pin member 58 passes through a passage in the upper end of let-down bar 36 and through apertures in the spaced lugs 56 of the stripper tip. A washer 59 and a cotter pin 61 are positioned on each of the opposite ends of pin 58 whereby to retain pin 58 in position. By the means just described, the letdown bar or banana bar 36 is pivotally connected to downwardly projecting lugs 56 of stripper tip'24, with banana bar 36 being free to pivotally move relative to stripper tip 24 if required.

A pair of spaced lug-like clip members 60 project downwardly and rearwardly (relative to FIGS. 3 and 6) from the under surface of upper body 50 of stripper tip 24 and are adapted to be received in and pass through apertures or slots 42 of upper body portion 23 of main body portion 22 of stripper 14. Lug-like members 60 are so contoured that when the'stripper tip is pushed into position to assemble stripper tip 24 relative to main body portion 22 as will be described hereinafter (and as seen in FIGS. 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8) lugs 60 are adapted to overlap the ends of slots 42 and to underlie the under surface of upper body portion 23 of main body portion 22 contiguous slots 42.

The end of stripper tip 24 contiguous stripper edge 52 is provided with a lug-like underhung edge indicated at 62 which extends substantially the enitre lateral width of main body portion 22 and is adapted to be received in underlying relation to forward edge 64 of main body portion 22 of stripper 14.

Stripper Side Wall and Mounting Thereof The stripper assembly shown in the drawings is one which is intended for positioning contiguous a lateral edge of the discharge end of the grate conveyor. A similar stripper assembly is positioned contiguous each of the laterally opposite edges of the discharge end of the grate conveyor.

In order to prevent lateral spillage of the material such as hot ore pellets which are passing from conveyor over the composite end stripper to the rotary kiln or the like, the stripper assembly 14 which is positioned contiguous the lateral edge of the composite end stripper is provided with a vertical side wall generally indicated at which is detachably interlockingly connected to main portion 22 of stripper assembly 14 in a manner which will be described and which is also retained in position by the replaceable stripper tip 24 which serves as an abutment preventing removal of side wall 70 in a manner which will be described.

As best seen in view of FIG. 4, stripper side wall 70 comprises a base edge 72 and a forward edge 74 which extends perpendicularly to base edge 72. When side wall 70 is assembled with stripper assembly 14, forward edge 74 lies forwardly (or to the left, relative to FIGS. 1 and 8) of the forward edge 52 of stripper tip 24. Side wall 70 also comprises a rear edge 76 of lesser height than forward edge 74, edge 76 also extending perpendicularly to base edge 72. Side wall 70 also includes inclined upper edges 78 and 80 which extend from the upper ends of the respective forward and rear edges 74 and 76, inclined upper edges 78 and 80 meeting at a common junction intermediate forward and rear edges 74 and 76 of side wall 70.

The laterally inwardly facing surface of side wall 70 is provided with a first or upper guide track generally indicated at 82 of generally L-shaped cross section, guide track 82 being formed as a part of the casting of which side wall 70 is formed. Guide track 82 begins at the edge 76 at a level above the base edge 72 and tapers downwardly to the left in an arcuate path relative to the view shown in FIG. 4, until the lower extremity of guide track 82 substantially abuts or intersects lower or base edge 72 of side wall 70. As best seen in the view of FIG. 3, the L-shaped cross section of upper guide track 82 includes a laterally inwardly extending web-like portion 84 from the laterally inner end of which extends a downwardly depending portion 86 to define a groove 105. The side wall 70 is also provided with a lower guide track generally indicated at 88 which may be integral with or alternatively welded to lower edge 72 of side wall 70. Lower guide track 88 extends from edge 76 for part of the distance to where tapered upper guide track 88 intersects lower edge 72. Lower guide track 88 is also of L-shaped cross section and, as seen in FIG. 3, includes a laterally inwardly extending web portion 90 and a portion 92 which extends upwardly from the laterally inner end of bottom web portion 90 relative to the view in FIG. 3 to define a groove 107.

It can be seen that upper guide track 82 and lower guide track 88 cooperate together to define a tapered slot or groove which is adapted to slidably receive the tapered web member generally indicated at which is formed on the laterally outer portion of main body portion 22 of end stripper 14.

At the laterally inner edge (i.e., the left-hand edge in the view of FIG. 3) of the material supporting upper body portion 23 of main body portion 22 of the stripper there is provided an integral downwardly extending rib 44 which receives the pivotal support 18 of stripper 14. At the opposite edge of upper body portion 23 (i.e., the right-hand edges thereof as seen in FIG. 3, and the edge of material supporting upper body portion 23 contiguous side wall 70), a downwardly extending rib 44A is also provided which, like the opposite rib 44, receives at one end thereof the pivotal support 18 of stripper 14.

In order to interlockingly receive side wall 70 as seen in the assembled views of FIGS. 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8, the material supporting upper body portion 23 and the rib 44A, both of stripper main body portion 22, are contoured as will now be described.

In the portion of the length (left to right in FIGS. 1, 4 and 8) of stripper main body portion 22 which is bounded by side wall 70, the material supporting upper body portion 23 does not extend to the laterally outer edge of main body portion 22 contiguous side wall 70, but instead in the region bounded by side wall 70, material supporting upper body portion 23 terminates at the laterally outer boundary of the downwardly depending web 91 best seen in the sectional view of FIG. 3.

Because material supporting upper body portion 23 does not extend to the laterally outer edge of main body portion 22 as just described, the forward portion of rib 44A indicated at 100, unlike the right-hand end of rib 44A as seen in FIG. 4, is unattached at the upper surface thereof to the under surface of material supporting upper body portion 23. Hence rib portion 100 which tapers to substantially a point at 103 (FIG. 4) at the forward end thereof provides a free-standing tapered web 100 which is adapted to interlock with the T-slot defined by guide tracks 82 and 88 formed on side wall 70 whereby to interlock side wall 70 with stripper main body portion 22.

The tapered web 100 includes a bottom edge 102 which is substantially flat and which is adapted in the final assembled position of wall 70 to substantially abut the bottom surface of the groove 105 formed in bottom guide track 88. Tapered web 100 also includes an upper edge 104 which tapers downwardly in an arcuate path toward the forward or left-hand relative to the drawings) end of main body portion 22 of stripper 14, tapered web 100 terminating in the tip end 103.

The arcuate curvature of the groove 105 of upper guide track 82 of side wall 70 is substantially the same as the arcuate curvature of upper edge 104 of interlocking web 100 on main body portion 22 of stripper 14, the groove of upper guide track 82 and the edge 104 lying on substantially equal radii struck from a common center when wall 70 is assembled on main body portion 22.

The tapered interlocking web 100 is connected to the lower end of web 91 which bounds material supporting portion 23 by a laterally extending tapered support web 93 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 8) which extends for substantially the entire length (left to right in FIGS. 1 and 4) of the tapered interlocking web 100. Support web 93 joins tapered interlocking web 100 intermediate the height of web 100, whereby to define a groove 94 between the facing surfaces of boundary web 91 and of interlocking web 100. Groove 94 is adapted to receive downwardly depending portion 86 of upper track 82 of side wall 70.

It can be seen that the space between the under surface of lateral portion 84 of upper track 82 and the upper surface of lateral portion 90 of lower track 88 defines a T-slot which is adapted to receive locking web 100 of main body portion 22 of stripper 14. Thus, there is in effect a double interlocking between side wall 70 and main body portion 22 of the stripper members as follows: (I) there is an interlocking between tapered web portion 100 ofmain body portion 22 and the T-slot defined between upper track 82 and lower track 88 of side wall 70; and (2) there is also an interlocking between the downwardly depending portion 86 of upper track 82 of side wall 70 and the groove or slot 94 between the laterally inner face of tapered interlocking web 100 and the laterally outer face of downwardly depending boundary web 91 which forms part of main body 22 of the end stripper.

Assembly Operation Before undertaking any disassembly and/or assembly operation of stripper tip 24 or of side wall 70, stripper 14 must be swung upwardly or jacked up about its pivot point 18 to raise the tip end of the stripper sufficiently clear of the conveyor grates 12 to permit the dissasembly and/or assembly operation. After completion of the disassembly and/or assembly operation, stripper 14 may be returned to its normal position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8.

To assemble side wall onto main body portion 22 of end stripper 14, it is necessary that replaceable tip 24 not be in position on main body portion 22 at the time side wall 70 is assembled, so it is assumed in the following discussion that tip 24 has already been removed. With tip end 103 of tapered web of main body portion 22 of the stripper first engaging the wide end of the T-slot between the tracks 82 and 88 carried by side wall 70, side wall 70 is then pushed to the right relative to the views shown in the drawings until side wall 70 can move relatively no further with respect to main body portion 22 of the end stripper. In this ultimate position, tip end 103 of locking web 100 will have reached the position substantially at the extreme lefthand end of guide track 82 carried by side wall 70, as seen in FIG. 8.

With side wall 70 thus frictionally interlocked with main body portion 22 of the end stripper by engagement of tracks 82 and 88 with the interlocking tapered web 100 to provide a tight frictional engagement between guide track members 82, 88 and tapered web 100, replaceable tip 24 of the end stripper is then positioned substantially in the manner described in my c0- pending application Ser. No. 356,049 filed Apr. 30, 1973, and as will be summarized hereinafter.

To assemble stripper tip 24 relative to main body portion 22 of stripper 14, stripper tip 24 is positioned above main body portion 22 of the stripper with lugs 56 being positioned above slots 40, and with lugs 60 being positioned above slots 42 of main body portion 22. Stripper tip 24 is then moved downwardly toward main body portion 22 until the respective lugs 56 and 60 have been received in their corresponding slots 40 and 42 of main body portion 22. Stripper tip 24 is then slid telescopically to the right relative to the views shown in the drawings and toward main body portion 22 to cause lugs 60 to move into underlying relation to main body portion 22 in overlapped relation to the ends of slots 42 and to cause underhung edge 62 at the forward end of stripper tip 24 to move into underlying relation to forward edge 64 of main body portion 22 of the stripper. The parts are so dimensioned and the various clearances are such that the engagement of lugs 60 and of underhung edge 62 of replaceable tip 24 with main body portion 22 will cause replaceable tip 24 to snugly engage main body portion 22 of the stripper. The downwardly projecting lugs 56 of stripper tip 24 may then be suitably pivotally connected by means of pivot pin 58, washers 59 and cotter pins 61 to the upper end of let-down bar 36. In the final assembled relation of stripper 24 relative to main body portion 22 of the 3, 6, 7 and8 of the drawings.

In the assembled position of stripper tip 24 as just described, the lateral width of the stripper tip is such that lower edge 62 of stripper tip'24 lies forwardly of (i.e., to the left of relative to FIGS. 1, 6, 7 and 8) and in-obstructing relation to detaching movement of guide track 82 of side wall 70 relative to the views shown in the drawings, thereby preventing any detaching movement to the left relative to the views shown in the drawings of side wall 70 when stripper tip 24 is secured in position. I

To remove side wall 70 from its engagement with the main body portion 22 of stripper 14, it is first necessary to remove stripper tip 24. To remove stripper tip 24 from the installed position shown in the drawings, cotter pins 61 are removed from pivot pin 58 which connects stripper tip 24 to the upper end of let-down bar 26. Pin 58 may then be removed from its engagement with lug-like projections 56 of stripper tip 24 and from its engagement with let-down bar 36 to thereby disconnect stripper tip 24 from let-down bar 36. Stripper tip 24 may then be slid forwardly to the left relative to the views of FIGS. 1 and 8 so that lugs 60 and underhung edge 62 of stripper tip 24 are moved out from underlying relation with respect to material supporting upper body portion 23 of main body portion 22 of the stripper. Stripper tip 24 may then be raised clear of main body portion 22, lugs 60 and 56 moving out through the respective slots 42 and 40 until stripper tip 24 is clear of main body portion 22.

With stripper tip 24 disengaged from main body por- Y tion 22 of the stripper as just described, side wall 70 may then be disengaged from main body portion 22 of the stripper since stripper tip 24 is no longer in obstructing relation to detaching movement of side wall 70. With stripper tip 24 removed, side wall 70 may then be drifted forwardor to the left relative to the views shown in the drawings until it is clear of the main body portion of the stripper. During the disengaging movement of side wall 70, as just described, guide tracks 82 and 88. move relative to tapered locking web 100 carried by main body portion 22 f the stripper until the tapered locking web 100 is completely disengaged from guide tracks 82 and 88. I

' It should also be noted that with thepartsassembled as shown in the drawings that the connection of letdown bar 36 and the connected chain 38 and weight 43 to stripper tip 24 by way of the pivotal connection between let-down bar 36and projections 56 which extend from the under surface of the stripper tip, performs an important function inhelpingto maintain-stripper tip 24;tightly assembled relative to main body portion 22 of the stripper. Thus stripper tip'24-is secured in position not only by the interengagement of lugs 60 and of underhung edge 62 of stripper tip 24with main body portion 22 of the stripper as previously described, but also is additionally secured tightly in assembled relation relative to main body portion 22 by the tension exerted by the weight of let-down bar 36, chain 38 and weight 43. For example, the total weight of let-down bar 36, chain 38, and weight 43 may be of the order of magnitude of 500 pounds.

Stripper assembly 14, including bothmain body portion 22 and stripper tip- 24 may be heat resistant steel alloy casting such as Alloy Casting Institute Designation HH, Alloy Type 25Cr-12Ni, American Society of Testing Materials Specification A297, having 11-14 percent nickel content and 24-28 percent chromium content. (See the publication Stainless Steel and High Alloy Heat Resistant Castings Corrosion Resistant CastingsTheir Engineering properties and Applications, Copyright 1960 by the International Nickel Company, Inc., One New York Plaza, New York, NY. 10004, 4th Edition, Aug. 1968.)

Side wall may be made ofa suitable stainless steel.

Each of the plurality of stripper assemblies across the discharge end of the grate conveyor and defining the composite end stripper" (such as eight stripper assemblies in the example given earlier in the application) is provided with a separate hold-down bar such as 26, and a separate let-down bar 36 and connected chain 38 and weight 43 is also provided for each separate stripper assembly. All of the plurality of stripper assemblies which collectively define the composite end stripper are supported by the common support beam 20 which extends the entire lateral width of conveyor 10.

From the foregoing description of the present invention, it has been shown how the objects of the invention have been obtained in a preferred manner. However, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts such as readily occur to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An end stripper adapted to strip material being processed from the discharge end of a grate conveyor, said end stripper comprising a main body member adapted to be supported by stationary support structure at a location in spaced relation from the stripping end of said stripper, a detachable side wall member positioned at a lateral edge of said end stripper, cooperating means carried by said side wall member and by said main body member for slidably detachably interlocking said side wall member with said main body member of said end stripper, and a replaceable stripper tip adapted to be detachably mounted on said main body member at the stripping end of said stripper, said replaceable stripper tip when assembled on said end stripper being in obstructing relation to detaching movement of said side wall member whereby to retain said side wall member in assembled relation on said end stripper, said stripper tip being provided with means adapted to be connected to a normally downwardly acting tension means whereby the tension means when connected to said stripper tip acts to engage said stripper tip and said main body member in firmly assembled relation with each other.

2. An end stripper as defined in claim 1 in which one of said members is provided with means defining a slot and the other of said members is provided with means defining and interlocking web, whereby said interlocking web is received in said slot to interlock said members.

3. An end stripper as defined in claim 1 in which said main body member is provided with an interlocking web and said side wall member is provided with means defining a slot, said interlocking web being received in said slot whereby to interlock said side wall member and said main body member with each other.

4. An end stripper as defined in claim 1 in which said stripper tip member and said main body member define a pair of cooperating members, and one member of said pair of cooperating members is provided with luglike means adapted to interengage cooperating means on the other member of said pair of cooperating members, whereby to interengage said stripper tip member with said main body member.

5. An end stripper as defined in claim 1 in which said stripper tip includes first lug-like means in spaced relation from the stripping edge of said tip member and adapted to be received through first aperture means in said main body member in detachably interengaged relation with said main body member, said stripper tip additionally including second lug-like means contiguous the stripping edge of said tip and adapted to underlie the forward edge of said main body member contiguous the stripping region and in detachably interengaged relation with said forward edge, said second lug-like means lying in obstructing relation to said means carried by said side wall member whereby to retain said side wall member in assembled relation on said end stripper when said stripper tip is assembled on said end stripper.

6. An end stripper as defined in claim 5 in which said second lug-like means of said stripper tip member is an underhung edge which is adapted to extend in underlying relation to said forward edge of said main body member for substantially the entire length of said forward edge in a direction laterally of the grate conveyor.

7. An end stripper adapted to strip material being processed from the discharge end of a grate conveyor, said end stripper comprising a main body member adapted to be supported by stationary support structure at a location in spaced relation from the stripping end of said stripper, a detachable side wall member positioned at a lateral edge of said end stripper, cooperating means carried by said side wall member and by said main body member for slidably detachably interlocking said side wall member with said main body member of said end stripper, and a replaceable stripper tip adapted to be detachably mounted on said main body member at the stripping end of said stripper, said replaceable stripper tip when assembled on said end stripper being in obstructing relation to detaching movement of said side wall member whereby to retain said side wall member in assembled relation on said end stripper, said stripper tip including projection means carried by and extending downwardly from said stripper tip in its assembled position, said projection means being adapted to be pivotally connected to a normally downwardly acting tension means whereby the tension means when connected to said stripper tip acts to engage said stripper tip and said main body member in firmly assembled relation with each other.

8. An end stripper as defined in claim 7 in which said main body member is provided with aperture means for receiving said projection means of said stripper tip, said projection means extending through said aperture means for connection to said tension means.

9. An end stripper as defined in claim 7 in which said replaceable stripper tip member is adapted to be connected to a tension means comprising a let-down bar which applies downward tension to said stripper tip member whereby to engage said stripper tip member and said main body member in firmly assembled relation with each other.

10. An end stripper as defined in claim 9 in which a chain is connected to said let-down bar contiguous an end of said let-down bar in spaced relation to the connection of said let-down bar to said stripper tip, and a weight is connected to said chain contiguous an end of said chain in spaced relation to the connection of said chain to said let-down bar. 

1. An end stripper adapted to strip material being processed from the discharge end of a grate conveyor, said end stripper comprising a main body member adapted to be supported by stationary support structure at a location in spaced relation from the stripping end of said stripper, a detachable side wall member positioned at a lateral edge of said end stripper, cooperating means carried by said side wall member and by said main body member for slidably detachably interlocking said side wall member with said main body member of said end stripper, and a replaceable stripper tip adapted to be detachably mounted on said main body member at the stripping end of said stripper, said replaceable stripper tip when assembled on said end stripper being in obstructing relation to detaching movement of said side wall member whereby to retain said side wall member in assembled relation on said end stripper, said stripper tip being provided with means adapted to be connected to a normally downwardly acting tension means whereby the tension means when connected to said stripper tip acts to engage said stripper tip and said main body member in firmly assembled relation with each other.
 2. An end stripper as defined in claim 1 in which one of said members is provided with means defining a slot and the other of said members is provided with means defining and interlocking web, whereby said interlocking web is received in sAid slot to interlock said members.
 3. An end stripper as defined in claim 1 in which said main body member is provided with an interlocking web and said side wall member is provided with means defining a slot, said interlocking web being received in said slot whereby to interlock said side wall member and said main body member with each other.
 4. An end stripper as defined in claim 1 in which said stripper tip member and said main body member define a pair of cooperating members, and one member of said pair of cooperating members is provided with lug-like means adapted to interengage cooperating means on the other member of said pair of cooperating members, whereby to interengage said stripper tip member with said main body member.
 5. An end stripper as defined in claim 1 in which said stripper tip includes first lug-like means in spaced relation from the stripping edge of said tip member and adapted to be received through first aperture means in said main body member in detachably interengaged relation with said main body member, said stripper tip additionally including second lug-like means contiguous the stripping edge of said tip and adapted to underlie the forward edge of said main body member contiguous the stripping region and in detachably interengaged relation with said forward edge, said second lug-like means lying in obstructing relation to said means carried by said side wall member whereby to retain said side wall member in assembled relation on said end stripper when said stripper tip is assembled on said end stripper.
 6. An end stripper as defined in claim 5 in which said second lug-like means of said stripper tip member is an underhung edge which is adapted to extend in underlying relation to said forward edge of said main body member for substantially the entire length of said forward edge in a direction laterally of the grate conveyor.
 7. An end stripper adapted to strip material being processed from the discharge end of a grate conveyor, said end stripper comprising a main body member adapted to be supported by stationary support structure at a location in spaced relation from the stripping end of said stripper, a detachable side wall member positioned at a lateral edge of said end stripper, cooperating means carried by said side wall member and by said main body member for slidably detachably interlocking said side wall member with said main body member of said end stripper, and a replaceable stripper tip adapted to be detachably mounted on said main body member at the stripping end of said stripper, said replaceable stripper tip when assembled on said end stripper being in obstructing relation to detaching movement of said side wall member whereby to retain said side wall member in assembled relation on said end stripper, said stripper tip including projection means carried by and extending downwardly from said stripper tip in its assembled position, said projection means being adapted to be pivotally connected to a normally downwardly acting tension means whereby the tension means when connected to said stripper tip acts to engage said stripper tip and said main body member in firmly assembled relation with each other.
 8. An end stripper as defined in claim 7 in which said main body member is provided with aperture means for receiving said projection means of said stripper tip, said projection means extending through said aperture means for connection to said tension means.
 9. An end stripper as defined in claim 7 in which said replaceable stripper tip member is adapted to be connected to a tension means comprising a let-down bar which applies downward tension to said stripper tip member whereby to engage said stripper tip member and said main body member in firmly assembled relation with each other.
 10. An end stripper as defined in claim 9 in which a chain is connected to said let-down bar contiguous an end of said let-down bar in spaced relation to the connection of said let-down bar to said stripper tip, and a weight is connected To said chain contiguous an end of said chain in spaced relation to the connection of said chain to said let-down bar. 